Computing-scale.



No. 804,915. PATENTBD NOV. 21, 1905.

' s. .T. AUSTIN.

COMPUTING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19, 1897.

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S. J. AUSTIN.

COMPUTING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN J. AUSTIN, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE COMPUTINGSCALE COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

COMPUTING-SCALE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed March 19,1897. Serial No. 628,266.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN J. Aus'rIN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ComputingWeighing- Scales, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in weighing-scales, a price-beamcontrolled by a movable connection with the frame of an independentlyand normally balanced weighingscale being provided, said frame beinglinked to the main scale-beam. On the price-beam may be readily computedthe price of a given weight of any commodity placed upon thescale-platform.

I carry out my invention by means of the device illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a side elevation of theupper part of myimproved weighing-scale, showing the main scale-beam andthe price-beam with parts of the standards. Fig. II is a top plan viewshowing the system of platform-levers and frame-bars. Fig. III is a topview of the platform and base, the platform-levers being shown in dottedlines. Fig. IV is a side elevation thereof, the base being shown insection. Fig. V is a perspective view of the inner end of the platformand base, showing the lower ends of the frame-bars and standards.

1 is a stationary main standard secured to the base 1 and supporting themain scalebeam, which is pivoted thereto by the knifeedge connection Thescale-beam has arms 2 and 4. 1

5 and 6 are the poises on the arms 2 and 4, respectively.

' 7 is a coupling-link furnished with loops which bear against theknife-edges, connect ing the lower bar of the frame 8 with the arm 2 ofthe scale-beam.

9 is a movable connection or member hav" ing a roller-bearing 1Oconnecting the upper bar of the frame 8 with a price-beam herein afterto be described.

The frame 8 is connected by the rods 11 thereof and knife-edges 13 witha lever 12, located beneath the platform 1", the whole independently ofthe price-beam being a regularly-balanced weighing-scale. The platformrests upon knife-edges 14, carried by the lever 12 and links 15. Thelinks 15 are pivoted to the lever 12 by knife-edges 15 and are hung inthe usual manner at the outer ends, being adapted to effect the movementof the frame through the lever 12 by a weight placed upon any portion ofthe platform. This movement, it will be readily seen, moves the frame 8and is controlled or governed by the main scale-beam by means of a link7 16 is a stationary auxiliary standard, on Whose upper end is pivotedthe price-beam by means of the knife-edge 18. The price-beam has barsmarked with grad uations and is adapted to indicate the value of thecommodity weighed. The inner arm 19 of the price-beam is notched incents 1 to 18, as shown in the drawings, and into the notches aknifeedge 20 on the upper end of the movable connection 9is adapted toseat.

By the construction described the scale can be balanced independently ofthe price-beamthat is, in the usual or normal or regular manner-by meansof the scale-beam. The movable connection 9 resting on the frame 8 andbeing balanced with it, the scale having been thus balanced, the movingof the movable connection 9 to the right or left, while it would changethe ratio or multiplication of the pricebeam, would not afiect thebalance of the scalebeam or the price-beam either. In this way I changethe ratio without affecting the balance. The price-beam is of coursebalanced first by itself.

21 is a poise riding on the outer arm 17 and indicates dollars andcents, and the pendant 22 carries weights indicating dollars adapted tooperate in conjunction with this part and pounds adapted to operate withpoises 27 and 28 on the upper bar 26. 23 is an ordinary lock, and 24 isa balance-ball riding on the screw-rod 25.

The operation of the device is as follows: The arm 19 of the price-beamis graduated from 1 to 18 to indicate the number of cents per pound thatthe commodity is worth. Theknife-edge 20 is placed in a given notchindicating the price of the commodity-we will say ten cents per pound.If one dollars worth of this commodity is desired, the poise 21 iscarried out on the value part of the arm 17 to the dollar-point, asshown. Then the commodity is placed upon the platform of theweighing-scale until the scale-beam indicates a balance. ,It will beseen that in this manner one dollars worth of an article at ten cents apound is obtained. If the arm 17 is graduated to one dollar and anygreat value is desired, it can be obtained by putting dollar-weightsupon the pendant 22.

In the scales illustrated and described it will be observed that thescale or tare beam constitutes a counterbalancing means for the systemof platform-levers, frame, and connecting-block and is connected withthe frame by a link 7, located vertically between the pivots between theframe and platform-lever. The result of this arrangement is that thedraft exerted by the scale-beam holds both pivotal bearings at the loweredge of the frame firmly in contact and with a substantially equalpressure at all times. Furthermore, the link 7 permits the frame to movein a vertical plane, while the scale-beam swings on a fixed axis,thereby preventing any binding or cramping during the operation of theparts. These results are particularly important in this type of-scale,wherein the vertical frame extends above the tare or scale beam anddirectly supports the head or connecting-block for cooperation with aprice-beam which is in balance independently of the frame andhead-block.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newtherein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a price-scale embodying platform-levers, a vertically-extendingframe pivotally connected with one of the platform-levers, a price-beamand a shiftable head-block connecting the frame and price-beam wherebythe point of connection between the headblock and price-beam may beshifted to set the scale for weighing at different rates per unit, atare-beam pivoted on a fixed axis below the level of the price-beam anda link pivotally connected at one end to the tarebeam and at theopposite end to the vertically-extending frame; substantially asdescribed.

2. In a price-scale, the combination with the platform-levers andprice-beam, of a vertically-extending frame pivotally connected at thelower end with one of the platform-levers, a shiftable connectionbetween the top of said frame and price-beam whereby the point ofengagement with the price-beam may be varied to set the scale forweighing at differentrates per unit, a tare-beam located be low the topof the frame and a link pivotally connected at one end with thetare-beam and pivotally connected at the opposite end with the frame;substantially as described.

3. In a price-scale the combination with the platform-levers,price-beam, verticallyextending frame pivotally connected with one ofthe platform-levers at two points and a shiftable head-block on saidframe and adapted to cooperate with the price-beam, of a tarebeampivoted on a fixed axis and a link pivotally connecting said tare-beamand frame; substantially as described.

L. In a price-scale, the combination with the platform-levers,price-beam, verticallyextending frame pivotally connected with one ofthe platform-levers at two points and a shiftable head-block on saidframe and adapted to cooperate with the price-beam, of a tarebeampivoted on a fixed axis, a link pivotally connected at one end with thetare-beam and pivotally connected at the opposite end with the frame ata point vertically intermediate the pivotal connections between theframe and platform-lever; substantially as described.

5. In a price-scale, the combination with the platform-levers,price-beam, vertically extending frame pivotally connected with one ofthe platform-levers at two points and a shiftable head-block on theupper partof said frame adapted to cooperate with the pricebeam, of atare-beam pivoted on a fixed axis below the price-beam, a link pivotallyconnected at one end with the tare-beam and pivotally connected at theopposite end with the vertically-extending frame at a point below thelevel of the head-block and vertically intermediate the pivotalconnections between the frame and platform-lever; substantially asdescribed.

6. In a price-scale, the combination with the price-beam pivoted on alixed axis, the platform-levers, and a vertically-cxtending frame havinga horizontal guide at the top and pivotally connected with one of theplatform-levers at the bottom at two separate points, of the head-blockworking on said horizontal guide and adapted to cooperate with theprice-beam, the tare-beam mounted on a fixed axis below the level of theguide and a link pivotally connected at one end with the tare-beam andpivotally connected at the opposite end with the verticallyextendingframe below the level of the guide; substantially as described.

7. In a computing-scale, the combination of a price-beam, aconnecting-block, a plat form lever with two separated connectingpoints,and an element having separate pivotal engagement with each of saidconnectingpoints connecting it with the price-beam through saidconnecting-block and means independent of the price-beam for holding theconnecting means in an upright position.

STEPHEN J. AUSTIN.

In presence of CHAS. W. BAGGOTT, Geo. LIGHT.

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